Disaster Diplomat | Board Director and Advisor | Speaker | Author | Emergency Management Executive
Let’s start a conversation! Last week, Allison Farole, MPA, CEM, MiPEM and I discussed the concept of building community preparedness. In this, we shared an observation that our current culture has shifted away from prioritizing and fostering a sense of “community.” Modern-day society coupled with technology advancements have shifted our mind-set. We are less connected to our neighbors, colleagues, schools, towns, city-centers, etc., than at any other time in history. And our long-standing viewpoint/sense of what “community” is, no longer exists. So, the QOTD is this: How do you build community preparedness, without community being a part of your culture?
Clint Osborn
8mo
An American Association of Colleges and Universities report points “withdrawal into comfortable enclaves and wariness of others who are different persist, while public confidence in the nation’s political institutions erodes in a downward trajectory.” This cool site underscores the point that you are making, which has been studied and opined upon quite a bit over the last several years (probably decades). http://encyclopedia.uia.org/en/problem/breakdown-local-community-cohesion. - Church attendance is a historic lows (https://news.gallup.com/poll/341963/church-membership-falls-below-majority-first-time.aspx) - Volunteer organizations (including public safety) are seeing chronic under participation (https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/12/09/volunteer-decline-homeless-pandemic/)
Justin Pierce
8mo
What leads you to believe we have shifted away from fostering community?
Christian Cunnie
8mo
In recent years, the City of Boston has offered block party grants ($750) to "connect neighbors, build community, and have fun". Although these events aren't specifically focused on emergency preparedness, they do work to address the initial issue you mentioned. https://www.boston.gov/news/block-party-grants-foster-safe-fun-summer-activities-families-boston
Brian Bott
8mo
Re-define community. I'm trying to push the powers where I live to expand CERT training offerings beyond the narrow definitions of community as being a geographic or political subdivision. A school is a community, a church, a workplace, an apartment building, a shopping center, a motorcycle club or seniors who regularly hang at the same coffee shop.
I think you have to shift what you think of as defining community. It's not just who lives next to you but also groups of people that you share interests and activities with. I know I'm in the season of life where my kids activities drive who I'm bonding with - last year, it was youth soccer club, this year it's high school crew team. Palaces for the People was my favorite read of last year - great primer on how the built environment influences development of social capital and those bonds between and among people and groups.
I just addressed that very topic in social vulnerabilities in disasters course that I am taking. Until we fully engage our communities, adopt a whole community approach, and understand the differences of those vulnerabilities, cultures, and ways of life, we will never see success. This means strengthening relationships locally, knowing and listening to the recognized leadership of those with the community elements, and engaging in town hall approaches to make it work. We cannot assume that we know what is best for them. We need to know what "keeps them up at night" regarding preparedness. And in doing so, find ways to use that technology to pull it together, whether it through more interaction in social media, creation of apps, or virtual meetings. We all talk about using Ready.gov for preparedness information but how often do we show groups how to navigate it to find relevant information?.
Carrie, Great piece and question. Defining community and the existence of a community is in constant flux. Typically a community is defined as where there are shared ties, feelings, and needs. Building and leavering communities for preparedness, needs to take place in both the physical and virtual worlds. I think the issue arises, is when funding comes into play. As seen in other posts, community is usually defined as something physical, a space or an area. Thus, that is where emergency managers focus their efforts. There is a bunch of literature on community and defining it, in the regional/urban planning and community health fields.
Luke Meyers
8mo
Leverage their geography of where they live work and play. Finding local community points of interest allows opportunities for connections, challenges though always come back to resources
Felton Gilmore
8mo
What a thought-provoking question in our rapidly evolving digital landscape! We indeed need a new definition of community, one embracing shared interests, adaptable boundaries, seamless communication, & virtual connections -ever evolving & moving beyond traditional geographical/cultural concepts. Key Thoughts: Identify Shared Interests/Concerns: Despite generational gaps, common concerns like safety, environment, and economic well-being can unify communities. Start Small, Build Momentum: Begin with smaller initiatives that can gain momentum over time, utilizing flexible boundaries. Embrace Technology: Utilize AI and social platforms for effective emergency response and communication. Leverage social media & local apps to organize & communicate preparedness efforts effectively. Realign Networks to Reflect Changing Communities: Engage not only local institutions, but also social communities /institutions impacted by events. Engage Private Industry: Its expertise in crisis management/business continuity, PI has a vested interest to strengthen community preparedness efforts. Creating a culture of readiness by focusing on universal priorities, leveraging existing tools, & fostering connections will ensure we make a meaningful impact.
Your organization deserves the best planning, training, and exercises you can get. Message me and let's discuss what keeps you up at night, and we'll work out a plan.
8moThis isn't going to be easy... but we need to reconnect people to their community. They need to know their watershed, their local weather and trends... There are still aspects of community that are tied to preparedness. The days of "the cop on the beat" may be gone, but there's a firehouse in every neighborhood. But I wouldn't put all my eggs in the basket of community preparedness. I'd focus on mobile-phone-based individual preparedness as well. Some trends we aren't going to turn around.